The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1887-05-04
THE HONEYMOON.
How an Innocent Couple Spent It
In TRAVELLING

In Travelling"
It is week since Lucien Berard and
Hortense Lariviere were married.
Nine. Lariviere, Hortense's widowed
mother, has for thirty years past kept
toy-shop in the Rue de la Chaussee
dAntin She is stiff, sharp woman,
with an over-bearing temper. She did
her best to prevent her daughter from
marrying Lucien. the only son of a
hardware dealer in the neighborhood.
but the young people somehow got the
best of her, However reluctant, she
had to yield her consent; but she now
intends to keep close watch and a tight
hand over the young couple. Although
by the marriage contract she has given
up the toy -shop to Hortense, merely re-
serving to herself room in the apart
ment she still in fact manages the
house under pretense of showing the
young folks the details of the bust
ness.
1t is the month of August. The heat
is intense and business very dull.
Mime. Lariviere of course is as sour as
ever. She will not let Lucien forget
himself for a moment when beside
Hortense. Did she not the other morn
ing find them kissing in the shop! A
proper thing this to be sure, and likely
to bring custom to the place! She had
never allowed M. Lariviere to touch
her even with the tips of his fingers
during business hours. He, it is true,
never dreamt of such thing. And
that is how they had built up q busi-
ness.
Lucien, not yet daring openly to re-
volt, sent kisses to his wife when his
mother-in-law' back was turned. At
last he plucked up courage enough one
day to remind her that both families,
previous to the wedding, had promised
him and his wife a honeymoon trip. At
this remark Nine. Lariviere puckered
her thin lips.
WELL" she answered drily, stake
an afternoon walk on the Boulogne
wood"
The newly-married pair looked at
each other dumbfounded. Hortense
now thought her mother perfectly
ridiculous. Even at night she could
scarcely be left alone with her hus-
band. At the least noise, up came
Nine. Lariviere in her bare feet and
knocked at the door to inquire if they
were not ill. And when they answered
that they were in the best of health,
she would exclaim:
you'd better 60 to sleep then, or
I'll catch you mapping behind the coun-
ter again tomorrow morning"
The mother-in-law' conduct was be-
yond endurance. Luoien mentioned
all the shop-keepers in the vicinity
who took short trips, while kinsfolk or
trusty assistants were left behind to
mind the shop. There was the glove
dealer at the corner Of Rue Lafayette,
who was at Dieppe; the cutler of the
Rue ST. Nicolas, who had just left for
Luchon; the jeweler near the Bou-
levard, who had taken his wife to
Switzerland. Nowadays any one who
was any body took a months holiday
Twill be the ruin of the business,
sir, do you hear?" olamored Nine.
Lariviere. 'In M. Lariyiere's time
we went once year, on Easter Mon
day to the Vincennes wood, and we
were none the worse off on that ac-
count Shall tell you what it will
come to? You will be the ruination of
the house with your taste for voyaging
like this! Yes, the ruination of the
house!'
But it was distinctly agreed upon
that we shoul take a trip somewhere"
put in Hortense. Remember,
mamma, you promised.
Perhaps did, but that was before
the marriage. We are apt to say all
sorts of nonsensical things before the
wedding. Come, now, don't be
ridiculousr'
Lucieu went out so as to avoid a
quarrel. He had ferocious inclina-
ton to strangle his mother-in-law. On
his return, however. after two-hours'
absence, he was quite another man; he
spoke in soft voice to Nine. Lariviere,
and had queer smile at the corner Of
his mouth
In the evening he asked his wife:
Have You ever been in Normandyp"
"Of course you know haven't"
SAID Hortense. II have never been
an: where except to the Vincennes
WOOD.
On the following day Lucien's
AUTHORIZATION Berard. as he is called
III the neighbnrlood, where he is
Known as a iolg COOL fellow, with
sharp eye to business-bnrst into the
'oy-shop quite unexpectedly, and in
Vited himself to breakfast.
When coffee came on to the table he
sad, IN an off-hand way:
Il have brought our children pres
en-, and he produced two railway